The Uganda National Forest Plan 2012-2022 reports that, within a period of 15 years, stretching from 1990, Uganda’s forest cover had reduced by approximately 1.3 million hectares. This represents an average annual deforestation rate of 1.8 percent. The implication here is that in less than twenty years, Uganda lost about 25 percent of its forest cover and if this rate of loss of forest cover is not contained, it means that in the next 40 years, Uganda will hardly have any tree left. And given the importance of trees to Uganda’s economic development, human well-being and the environment, this puts the Country in a state of uncertainty. This is because trees and forest cover have implications for the energy sector, tourism, agriculture, food security and the lives and livelihoods of many Ugandans – and especially so the forest-dependent and forest-adjacent communities.
The bleak reality facing Uganda’s forest cover has not spared Rwoho Forest Reserve. This forest reserve is located in Rwampara county of Mbarara District, Isingiro County of Isingiro District, and Ruhama County of Ntungamo District, in southern Uganda and covers an area of 9,073 hectares. This forest reserve is endowed with natural forests of high value especially in the valleys, with abundant and rare species occurring in almost pure stands in some places. Swamp forest is found growing around small swamps in the valley bottoms, dominated by natural rare species with papyrus and other species growing on the water.
Rwoho forest reserve is extremely important for its ecological and ecosystem value. According to the inventory by the National Forestry Authority, of the 65 forests investigated for biological diversity, Rwoho ranks 41st in overall importance with a score of 12. It ranks third in small mammal richness, with a score of 8.8, but 51st in bird richness with a score of 7.4. In terms of rarity value, it ranks 27th for trees with a score of 7.4, 52nd for moths, and 13th for small mammals with a score of 6.5, 45th for birds, and 18th for butterflies with a score of 5.3. The forest supports one tree species and two butterfly species, which do not appear anywhere else in Uganda’s protected areas. It also supports two small mammals and one butterfly which are regional endemics, and five tree/shrubs, one small mammal, and eight butterflies of restricted range (NFA 2006).
Besides its biodiversity value, Rwoho Central Forest Reserve serves an important watershed role. It is the source of the Mishumba River that flows through the drier south east to meet the Kagera River. Kagera River flows into Lake Victoria, emerging as the River Nile. More importantly river mishumba was pivotal in the establishment of the world bank funded Kabuyanda irrigation scheme to provide farmers in the project areas with access to critical water for irrigation and other agricultural services.
Rwoho also has other social economic benefits especially for forest edge communities. The forest is a source of timber stocks, natural forests and woodland biomass, non-timber products such as minerals, water catchments and hydrological services, and provision of habitats for both plants and animals. The reserve also has immense medicinal value as a source of local herbal medicines for local people and animals.
Yet inspite of its tangible importance, Rwoho central forest reserve is under immense threat. The forest is now partially degraded mostly due to the construction of the irrigation scheme. Worse still Poor farming practices by local communities are accelerating soil erosion leading to sedimentation and silting of water sources. Monoculture tree systems of exotic species cause loss of biological diversity of species and habitats. Plantation establishment requires clearing of land by use of fire and treatment with herbicides and pesticides. These practices are environmentally unfriendly and are direct causes of pollution in water sources in the watershed, besides being a health hazard to local communities. Tropical forests host a high percentage of global biological diversity. However, monoculture tree systems are not forests, implying that biological diversity is underrepresented in the reforestation activities of the Rwoho Central Forest Reserve.
Worse still the growing demand for forest products in the urban areas of Mbarara, Ntungamo and Isingiro towns that include fuel wood for domestic use, timber for local and commercial sale, poles for domestic and commercial construction, grass for grazing animals, poles for tool handles, weaving materials, soils and sand for building, mushrooms and vegetables for domestic use, and charcoal for sale is fueling mass destruction of the forest reserve.
Then there is a problem of regular fire outbreaks. These are caused by encroachers who carry out illegal activities in the reserve. The main sources of fire are wild honey harvesters, cattle keepers who burn the bush to regenerate grass for grazing, and disgruntled individuals that start fires to damage the forest. The fire destroys both the plantations and the natural forest belts, causing financial loss and loss of biological diversity.
Hence, in the circumstances, there is need for holistic interventions to save Rwoho Central reserve. First, both local communities and central Government need to promote the policy of tree planting in communities. This helps to promote environmental protection while lessening encroachment on the forest cover. In fact, prominent Environmental Rights- anchored Civil Society Organizations like Agency for Transformation (AfT) and Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) have advocated for the implementation of the National Tree Fund. In 2003, the Government of Uganda legislated for the establishment of a National Tree Fund, the tree fund was purposely established to promote tree planting and growing at national and local level; and to support tree planting and growing efforts of a non-commercial nature, which are of benefit to the public good. So in the face of a declining forest cover in Uganda, Government should seriously consider implementing this policy if we are to save critical natural habitats like Rwoho forest reserve.
Lastly, besides the need for resettlement of encroachers, Government needs to raise public awareness among forest edge communities on the status and values of biological diversity and the dangers associated with environmental degradation in Rwoho forest reserve. This sensitization could be key in reversing the rate of destruction of the forest reserve by the adjacent communities.
National Forest Authority should be lauded for its efforts to ensure that there is restoration of areas affected by the construction of the irrigation scheme in Rwoho. The World Bank funded irrigation scheme has also ensured that project affected persons and communities are fairly compensated to ensure that the project is managed seamlessly.
Micheal Dennis Idube
The Writer is a Lawyer and Programs Assistant at Advocates for Equal Justice Initiative-ADVEJI
michealdennis@gmail.com
